Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesWill Jonathan Toews be ready to stand over the Spoked-B when Game 6 begins?

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Based on where they stand in the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals and the reputations they have established in their respective situations, the Chicago Blackhawks constitute an unstoppable force, the Boston Bruins an immovable boulder.

For the fifth time in five tries over the five-year coaching tenure of Joel Quenneville, Chicago broke a 2-2 tie in a playoff series with Saturday’s 3-1 win. The Hawks will now try to throw the knockout punch in Game 6, just as they did every previous time in this scenario.

Overall, in the Quenneville era, the Blackhawks are 9-2 when they have a chance to finish off an adversary. Excluding Game 7s, they are 8-1 when they are immediately coming off the win that gives them three of the requisite four to clinch the series.

The Bruins, however, have been one of the NHL’s best postseason survivors during six seasons under head coach Claude Julien. In his reign, Boston is 10-4 when facing elimination and, with the exception of Game 7s, its opponents are winless at 0-4 on their first attempt to end the Bruins' campaign.

Something will have to give in Game 6 at the TD Garden Monday night. Here is a deeper look at how either trend can trip up.

Viewing Info

Time: Monday, June 24, 8 p.m. ET

TV: NBC, CBC, RDS

Key Storyline: Key Centers May Not Be Available

Harry How/Getty Images

Each team’s resident Selke Trophy candidate left Game 5 with injuries. Chicago’s Jonathan Toews, who has a recent history of concussions, stayed on the bench for the third period after he took a high hit from Bruins blueliner Johnny Boychuk.

Meanwhile, Boston’s Patrice Bergeron sat out the majority of the second period and eventually went to the hospital with a reported spleen ailment, according to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet.

Even if either of these key players is in decent condition to dress for Game 6, it is safe to assume that they will not be 100 percent. If they cannot suit up, others will need to step up all the more.

In addition, Boychukmay leave a vacancy on the Bruins defense if the NHL decides his hit on Toews is suspension-worthy.

Key Matchup: Corey Crawford versus TuukkaRask

Harry How/Getty Images

At this stage of a multi-round staring contest between netminders, the cost of a blink can only inflate.

Gregory Campbell: Out for the rest of the playoffs with a right fibula injury.

Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews: Questionable for Monday with a head injury.

Projected Lineup

Bruins’ Projected Lineup

Forwards

Line 1: Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton

Line 2: Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron or Carl Soderberg-Jaromir Jagr

Line 3: Daniel Paille-Chris Kelly-Tyler Seguin

Line 4: KasparsDaugavins or Soderberg-Rich Peverley-Shawn Thornton

Defensemen

Line 1: Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk or Dennis Seidenberg

Line 2: Seidenberg, Matt Bartkowski or Wade Redden-Andrew Ference

Line 3: Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid

Goalies

Starter: TuukkaRask

Backup: Anton Khudobin

Blackhawks’ Projected Lineup

Forwards

Line 1: Bryan Bickell-Jonathan Toews or Andrew Shaw -Patrick Kane

Line 2: Patrick Sharp-Michal Handzus-Marian Hossa

Line 3: Brandon Saad-Shaw or Dave Bolland-Viktor Stalberg

Line 4: Marcus Kruger-Bolland or Brandon Bollig-Michael Frolik

Defensemen

Line 1: Duncan Keith-Brent Seabrook

Line 2: NiklasHjalmarsson-Johnny Oduya

Line 3: Nick Leddy-Michal Rozsival

Goalies

Starter: Corey Crawford

Backup: Ray Emery

Boston Will Win If…

Zdeno Chara does a little more of what he did in the third period of Game 5 and virtually none of what he did throughout Game 4.

Elsa/Getty Images

In the aftermath of Game 5, Jesse Connolly of the New England Hockey Journalmade this observation to sum up Chara’s recent nosedive: “Chara, including the empty-netter, has been on the ice for eight of the Blackhawks' last nine tallies. Yowza!”

Boston’s towering captain did make mild amends in Saturday’s closing frame by at least breaking up Crawford’s shutout, thereby instilling the statistical notion that the Bruins still had a chance.

Another homeward-bound slapper from Chara may or may not be necessary depending on what the forwards on his side do in Game 6. But if he keeps things noticeably tidy on the home front, that just might be enough to physically and psychologically drive his allies to production at the other end.

Bottom line: Chara has a track record to defend. In his captaincy, the Bruins are 4-0 when they need to win in order to force Game 7.

Chicago Will Win If…

It mutes the masses of TD Garden early and elicits the same fast-working elimination potion it so often has under Quenneville.

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Blackhawks already flaunted one of their playoff trademarks on Saturday by taking the lead and pulling within one victory of a take-all clincher before the opponent could.

With the exception of those series when it falls into a 3-0 or 3-1 hole, the core Chicago group always brandishes the same basic killer instinct in Games 5 and 6. As a result, not once since Quenneville has been in charge have the Hawks allowed an opponent to force a Game 7 after trailing 3-1 or 3-2.

With another fast, fruitful start from any of its marquee players, a la Patrick Kane in Game 5, this series should be no different.

Prediction: Bruins 3, Blackhawks 2

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

This series had the look of a seven-gamer before it even commenced, and that look has only strengthened as the momentum has swayed through the first five contests.

With both Bergeron and Toews far from their normal selves, or possibly unable to play at all, both parties will have a void to fill in the way of exemplary two-way leadership.

The potential absence of Bergeron, along with his own aforementioned slump and the implications of this contest, should spur Boston’s captain Chara to a much more efficient outing. The tone he and other active leaders set ought to start a strong-enough cycle of energy with the Garden crowd to at least ensure the Blackhawks don’t corral the Cup on Bruins property.

Bergeron’s prospective absence means the Bruins will likely need to channel their 2008 team. That was when he missed the bulk of the season, including the playoffs, and an underdog Boston team valiantly forced Game 7 before a top-seeded Montreal team asserted itself as the clear-cut superior back home.

With or without Bergeron, look for that pattern to repeat itself in this final week of the 2012-13 NHL season.